No let-up this week, eh?  It’s looking more and more like my flood gates are effin’ faulty.

• Harbinger #13 (Valiant): Dysart’s drummin’ up some deliciously dangerous super-team drama.  Consistently better than the big guys’ team books.

Harbinger #13

• Bloodshot #12 (Valiant): Revenge is in the air.  Not so thrilled with Kitson here; he’s been serviceable at best.
• Dream Thief #2 (Dark Horse): We liked #1–from dreamers Jai Nitz and Greg Smallwod–a lot.  Hope it doesn’t turn into a nightmare.

Dream Thief #2

• Animal Man #21 (DC): Gosh, I hope this goes somewhere.  The last issue was a promise of sorts; so, we’ll see.
• Batman and Batgirl #21 (DC): Tomasi’s won me over–for now, anyway.  I’ve certainly liked it more than Batman.

Batman and Batgirl #21

• Batwoman #21 (DC): Yeah, I know.  Hey, maybe it’s a good thing I’ve stuck around: I see that Francesco Francavilla’s on art duties.
• Wonder Woman #21 (DC): Still good enough to bring me back for another.
• Mara #5 (Image): Riding this one out out of respect for Brian Wood.
• Mind the Gap #11 (Image): If you’re not minding Jim McCann, you’re out of your damn mind.  My first monthly investment.  Perfect timing, too: Vol. 2 comes out tomorrow!  (Thanks to Menachem from Escape Pod Comics for the heads-up!)

Mind the Gap #11

• Revival #11 (Image): #10 ended on a great note.
• Indestructible Hulk #9 (Marvel): If it weren’t for Daredevil, I might be off it after the Thor debacle.
• Ultimate Spider-Man #24 (Marvel): I’ve always loved Cloak and Dagger.  Mostly Dagger.  David Marquez on art is a selling point.  Ultimate Power Pack?  Yeah, not so much.

Ultimate Spider-Man #24

• The Sixth Gun #32 (Oni): Will have a nice little stack by the time Vol. 5 comes out.  Gots me an itchy trigger finger!
• Sons of the Gun #4 (Oni): Oh, this’ll have to tide me over.
• Extinction Parade #1 (Avatar): A Max Brooks zombie book?  I’ll give it a shot–even if it is from Avatar.

Extinction Parade #1

• Wild Blue Yonder #1 (IDW): My Thumber of the Week.  Oh, there’s always one–usually another #1.

Yeah, I’m gonna have to take a deep breath.

What are you looking forward to tomorrow?

Turning pages,

Scott

OK.  So, this is it: the sprint I’ve been training for.

Don’t blink.

Listerine

• Fatale #14 (Image): Did you notice: Fatale didn’t make our Top 5 Books of April?  Yeah: that’s because it didn’t come out in April!  Can’t imagine it won’t make the cut for May.  A one-shot, sure–and, indeed, the last; but these boys–the brilliant Brubaker, Phillips, and Stewart–are going into it with a loaded drum mag.

Fatale #14

• Ultimate Spider-Man #23 (Marvel): Is this series–this spectacular character–being cheapened by its borrowing too much from Peter Parker’s story?

Ultimate Spider-Man #23

• X-O Manowar #13 (Valiant): #12 wasn’t very good.
• Bloodshot #11 (Valiant): In fact, the weakest Valiant week since the relaunch was last month’s X-O and Bloodshot.  The stories sort of stood in place.  The underwhelming art from Cary Nord and Barry Kitson–and their respective finishing crews–didn’t help any, that’s for sure.  Let’s hope we’re pedal to the metal with this week’s offerings.
• Helheim #3 (Oni Press): New to the ol’ pull-list; but it seems the only way I can guarantee that I’ll leave the shop with a copy.

Helheim #3

Quick Pick-Me-Ups

• Dream Thief #1  (Dark Horse): Here’s hoping that this Dark Horse mini doesn’t end up like the recently wrapped up Colder.  What a hot mess!

Dream Thief #1

• Batwoman #20 (DC): How the flighty have fallen!  Once a pull-list darling, Batwoman is now, sadly, a comic-day decision.  Yes, I am aware: J.H. Williams is still writing.

Where’s Nancy When You Need Her?

• Wonder Woman #20 (DC): Not too sure if I’ll be able to say No when the time comes.  I want to be able to make a clean break, just like I did with Swamp Thing and Action; I really do!  I know how it’ll go down: I’ll pick it up after collecting the others and I’ll be like, Geez.  Only seven books?  Another won’t break me.  I mean, it’s only three bucks, for goodness sake, so…

What are you looking forward to tomorrow?

Turning pages,

Scott

Things are looking up.  Don’t believe me?  Look down.

May Will Be’s

• Dial H #12 (DC): WTF, indeed!  A return to early form with some seriously convoluted explanations.  Was cute then.  Not so cute now.  Despite that, still intriguing and inventive–and the only DC book left on my pull-list.  I mean, look at this cover for crying out loud!

• Animal Man #20 (DC): After a few duds, Buddy’s singing for his supper–or at least for his place at my ever-shrinking dinner table.  Maybe—just maybe–with the Rot in the rear view mirror, Jeff Lemire will be able to return to his wheelhouse.
• Green Arrow #20 (DC): Hey!  A double-shot of Lemire!  Not as exciting as a double-shot of Ennis–or even Hickman at this point–if I’m being honest.  He’s kept me around, however, by making the Green Arrow/Kimodo conflict not unlike the classic Daredevil/Bullseye rivalry that I love so much.  He’s also made me feel uncomfortable–terribly so a times–with the insinuation of Kimodo’s effervescently violent daughter.  It takes a lot to affect me like that; so, this issue’s earned my attention.

Green Arrow #20

• All-New X-Men #11 (Marvel): Hope it’s a better date than its little sister.  Yeah, Uncanny #5 didn’t do it for me.
• Indestructible Hulk #7 (Marvel): Attuma was enough of a drag.  #6 was like hitting the brakes as hard and as unexpectedly as can be.  Waid gets a long leash, but sheesh!  I get it’s Simonson doing Thor.  But here?  Now?  Ugh.
• Harbinger Wars #2 (Valiant): So far, so good.

Harbinger Wars #2

• Shadowman #0 (Valiant): Surprisingly good month after month.

Comic Day Decisions

• Mister X: Eviction #1 (Dark Horse): Picked up the recent One-Shot.  Liked it enough to put this on the radar.  Dean Motter’s work is certainly worth a look–probably even a read.

Mister X: Eviction #1

• Movement #1 (DC): I’ll thumb through it–if only because it’s a #1 and because Gail Simone’s attached to it.
• Ten Grand #1 (Image): J. Michael Straczynski is always worth a shot.  When he’s on, he’s as solid as they come.
• Hawkeye #10 (Marvel): I’ve still got to get through Vol. 1.  May be worth jumping on the monthly bandwagon.  May make more sense to wait for the next trade.  We’ll see.
• Winter Soldier #18 (Marvel): Kicked it off the pull-list a few months back but have been picking it up nevertheless.  Was digging it up until the last issue.  May choose to ride out the arc.  May decide to just cut the cord now.
• Black Bat #1 (Dynamite): Will judge this one on the art.  If it grabs me, I’ll grab it.  Brian Boucellato’s work on The Flash wasn’t strong enough to make this a must have.
• Suicide Risk #1 (BOOM!): Mike Carey’s name, however, is enough here.  I liked Lucifer back in the day and enjoyed what I’ve read of The Unwritten.

Suicide Risk #1

I may leave the store with no more than ten books.

Uh huh.

What are you looking forward to tomorrow?

Turning pages,

Scott

I like long lists and I cannot lie.  (I know, I know: I’ve been talking a big game about cutting down my weekly haul.  In fact, I have been trimming off some dead ends; I really have been. Thing is, for each book I cut out, another two sprout up in its place.  It’s not fair!  Not that I have to buy them.  OK, who am I fooling?  Of course I do!  I have to have them to surrrrrrviiiiiiiiive!)

• The Answer #4 (Dark Horse): Has been lots of fun.  Can’t believe it’s going to end here.
• The Massive #11 (Dark Horse): A new obsession of mine–on the strength of Dark Horse’s #1 for $1 campaign.

The Massive #11

• Mind MGMT #10 (Dark Horse): Hasn’t been up to par of late.  Or maybe it has been, and that’s the problem.  I can’t tell anymore!  Must be tough for a series to carry such a burden of expectations.  Isn’t fair to expect Kindt to keep raising the bar with every new issue, is it?  But I still do.
• Batman Incorporated #10 (DC): Continuing the Great Batman Hijacking.  Kudos, Mr. Morrison, kudos.
• Clone #6 (Image): This title was supposed to end up on the cutting room floor.  Instead, I find myself infected with renewed interest on the strength of a pretty decent #5.  Curse your cliffhangers, David Schulner!
• East of West #2 (Image): Willing to let it build–especially now that I’m high on Hickman’s The Manhattan Projects.  (Yup: that’s why they make the trades, folks–for fools like me.)
• Jupiter’s Legacy #1 (Image): Swore I was done with Millar after Secret Service.  I also swore I wouldn’t spend more than twenty bucks a week on comics.

Jupiter’s Legacy #1

• Lost Vegas #2 (Image): #1 was absolutely gorgeous.  Sure, Lee’s artwork overshadowed the story, but McCann did enough to bring me back to the table.  The bet: I’ll like this issue even more.
• The Manhattan Projects #11 (Image): As I mentioned: I’m still catching up (I’m deep into Vol. 2), but I’m loving every page.  Might as well jump on the monthly bandwagon now!

The Manhattan Projects #11

• FF #6 (Marvel): Light, airy, sweet: it’s a damn puff pastry!
• Fury: My War Gone By #11 (Marvel): You’ll never know, Garth, how much I love you/Please don’t take my Fury away.
• Ultimate Spider-Man #22: In #21, Bendis gave me what I wanted: maskless Miles–and more!  I know I can’t get it every time out, but, gosh, when it happens, it’s so good.
• Uncanny X-Men #5 (Marvel): I’m kinda glad I stuck with this–and with All-New.  While I could do without some of the poorly played goofy stuff, I’m suddenly satisfied with the sister titles and how they’re being woven together.  More important: I’m starting to like Cyclops again.
• Deathmatch #5 (BOOM!): A frivolous title that is hanging on by a thread–an intriguingly hearty thread.
• Helheim #2 (Oni Press): Sold out at the distributor?  One of my guys better have this on the damn shelf or so help me!  No, really: I’ll need someone to help me–pay a ridiculous premium for it.  Damn Thursday mark-ups!
• Rachel Rising #16 (Abstract Studio): #15 wasn’t as powerful as previous issues.  Hey, it’s bound to happen: Moore’s living in the same universe as Kindt over on Mind MGMT.  That bar can be a real bitch.

Rachel Rising #16

That’s not just a long list.  That’s a really solid list.  May not be a dead end in the bunch.

Might have to leave the scissors in the drawer this week.

What are you looking forward to tomorrow?

Turning pages,

Scott

Thank God!  Looks like a light week–a light yet pivotal week.  Knew this week was coming.  Doesn’t make it any easier.  Saying goodbye to a former pull-list stalwart is never as easy as just leaving it on the shelf.  You know I’m going to pick them up.  You know I’m going to flip through them.  You know there’s going to be something about them: the way their pages feel on my fingers; the way they smell…

Sitting in My Bag in the Shop

• Animal Man #19 (DC): Rotworld is a thing of the past.  Let’s see what Lemire can do now that he’s free of Snyder’s swampy grip.
• Dial H #11 (DC): Nelson and Roxie sittin’ in a tree/As much fun as a comic can be.

Dial H #11

• Bedlam #6 (Image): Spencer’s won me over.
• Harbinger Wars #1 (Valiant): Yes, please.

Harbinger Wars #1

• Shadowman #6 (Valiant): Still liking it more than I thought I would.  Probably more than I should.
• Winter Soldier #17 (Marvel): See Shadowman.  No, really: Latour’s surprised me–especially following Brubaker, the character’s creator!  It’s my experience with books like this that make me think it’s worth hanging on for at least one more.  (See below.)

No Prob Picks

• Green Arrow #19 (DC): Lemire made me uncomfortable enough with #18 to warrant another go-round.  (Just for the record, that ain’t easy to do; so kudos to Mr. Lemire.)
• Snapshot #3 (Image): I’m a notorious limited series finisher–especially four-issue minis–whether I’m really taken by #1 or not.  While I was not enthralled by #1, Diggle brought enough to #2 to make me look forward to this one.

Snapshot #3

• Indestructible Hulk #6 (Marvel): Nervous about the direction its headed, even if it’s only a digression; but, Waid’s worth it.
• Kill Shakespeare: Tide of Blood #2 (IDW): Didn’t love the first one.  Thought it was kind of a mess, actually.  Something intriguing, though, about the pages being “mirrored.”

Kill Shakespeare: Tide of Blood #2

Know When to Say When

• Action Comics #19 (DC): Morrison’s gone–and along with him, a major draw to this book.  But this is the beginning of the Diggle Debacle.  Major rubbernecking potential.
• Swamp Thing #19 (DC): Snyder’s gone–and along with him…
• All-New X-Men #10 (Marvel): Time for me to man up.

What are you looking forward to tomorrow?

Turning pages,

Scott